The Sen Clan has decided to break up. Olympia is a great game, and I have
had lot of fun helping to civilize the world. Things are so civilized at
the moment, the the Clan's wild spirit needs some other uncivilized realms
to roam.

The Sen Clan is a founding member of AOO, and that memebership has been a
constant source of entertainment. AOO is a very different type of alliance,
and I guess that is why it has been misunderstood in the past. As a
founding member I am proud of the fact that I have never been a participant
in any battle involving player characters or NPCs. The only aggressive
actions done by me in the game is capturing a couple of beasts ( maybee more
than a couple :-). In doing so I, became the king of Drucartan. This
should disprove the roumors that the only effective way of playing in
Olympia is to attack and attack and attack and attack.

A little bit of early AOO history. AOO was formed by a group of players
that knew each other from previous games. Some of us went all the way back
to the first Olympia. It was an alliance formed to share information (the
most valuable thing in the game), and for mustual PROTECTION (i.e. if
someone ganged up on you without cause, you have allies that would be more
than happy to help). Appart from that there was no common goals, and the
factions soon spread in all directions. That is why you seem to run in to
AOO wherever you go. The AOO factions are very independent, to the point
where two of the factions started the building at the castle on Mount
Olympia on the same turn.

Since there has been so many requests, here is what you needed for top spot
on turn 60:

Any requets about the political situation in Drucarton should be directed to
Wieder Sen [c2d].

-- The Sen Clan [di4]

TEMPLE Visit Permit Requested (200 gold)
Friar Dodge would like to visit a temple to learn his trade.
If you have a temple near the Imperial City to the northwest of it,
you can earn 200 gold just by letting me visit to study.
Friar Dodge (x5p)

-- The day of Rest [ju3]

We're looking for a few good nobles...

The Liberty Confederacy is accepting applications
for new members! Confederates gain the invaluable benefits
of collective action in return for same. The Liberty
Confederacy is a loose defencive alliance of nobles who
wish to pursue their happiness with their freedoms
intact. We are not engaged in any debilitating wars! Newbies
especially welcome.

So come to Ossicus & make your fortune with the LC!

(applications to this id#).

-- Circle of Hope [lp3]

advertisementadvertisementadvertisement

Maps are available! Get yours today from the Illustrated Man [s5e]
in the Imperial City! If you're a new player, only 75 gold plus your
surface mail address for all the info known about Provinia and the
world! For experienced players, ask about a blow-up of your area!

-- The Midnight Carnival [nx2]

The Saturators are planning on visiting the port cities
Mysa and Calldwr (provided our maping info is ok) in the
near future. We would like to hear from any nobles
already in those regions, especially any ruling bodies.
We are interested in trade goods and possibly ferrying
goods or passengers if they are travelling in the right
direction.

-- The Saturators [qd2]

----------------------
S. CAMARIS Update
----------------------

Monthly notice: any new visitors to our
fair isle should notify us in advance.

-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]

Guardians of Light - HELP! Provinia seems to be engulfed by an
Invasion of the Body Snatchers! Not many are safe to leave the
Safe Haven. Newbies seem to be the one-stop shopping source for
evil alliance needs. Escape by sea has been offered as an escape
route to friendlier climes, but rumor now has it that the sea lanes
are impassable. Help us with some advice (or sea courses) so we all
can enjoy playing this game!

-- The Shadow Masters [xe5]

If you're a stranger thinking of visiting Tollus, do get in touch
before it's too late.

-- Erik the Well Read [l4o]

I'm handing on the role of IC master trader to the next generation.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.

-- Lance [m5h]

Gentlewind Visitation Policy

Visitors are welcome to the area controlled by the Cohorts of
Colossus [vo4], as long as they obtain travel permits first. Not
all requests will be granted. The affected area includes the
land provinces bx25-bx27, by24-by27, and bz27.

I only rarely refuse reasonable requests, and then only because
I've already granted my quota. To avoid possible misunderstandings,
do not enter this area without a permit, nor collect resources
without express permission. Violators of this policy may be
subject to arrest.

-- Sheriff Pelenth of Gentlewind [f3i]

The Olympia Atlas is accepting contributions, and is available for
download! Be the first to contribute information for unexplored lands
(Faery).

In the tradition of Oleg's Map (tm), the Atlas is a compilation
of geographical information useful for explorers, traders, and
adventurers. Best of all, it's absolutely free!

To contribute to the Atlas, simply send turn excerpts (cut out all the
incriminating parts) that contain the following information:

and send it to sx6@g1.pbm.com. We'll include it into the next version
of the Atlas.

The Atlas is available by ftp from your nearest PBM ftp site
(ftp.erg.sri.com in the USA, check the PBM FAQ for other sites),
in the directory /pub/pbm/olympia, as atlas.X, where X is the turn of
the last update.

The Atlas is also available on the PBMGames forum on CompuServe, in
the fantasy games section, as atlas.oly.

Brought to you by the Skulking Vermin (sx6)

Note!! Due to Real-Life (tm) commitments, the Atlas will be
appearing irregularly, as I have time to assemble contributions.

-- Sludge [x0o]

This is monthly notice if you wish to visit the environs
of Cycarth and Redwine please be courteous enough to let
m9l know (you can reach him at heyman@camis.stanford.edu.
I do not currently plan to restrict access, but would like
to know who is wandering around in my front yard. I would
especially like to know if you plan on using any of the
natural rsources (peasants, wood, and the like) in the
provinces bt25 bt26 bt27 bu25 bu26 bu27 bv25 bv26 bv27
bw25 bw26 and bw27.

The Brotherhood of Ormos claims the city of Avalon [ao0k] and all
lands and resources inside the boundary of [bp05]-[bp08]-[br06]
-[br09] inclusive, as its sole and lawful demense. Those wishing to
visit Ormos are required to request a visa and await clearance
before attempting to make landfall. All unauthorized visitors are
unwelcome and looked upon with extreme prejudice. Captains needing
to make landfall at Avalon for emergency repairs will not be
molested, but are still required to contact me for a visa.

-- Pelinore Dragonslayer [p4s]

Rumors

What is farenstone used for anyway?

The Sun wanes tragic,
As mortal contests transpire.

*** Seen in last turn's TIMES: ***
"There is also the Alliance of the New Moon and the Iron Nation,
but not much is heard from either anymore, and there is also the
Liberty Confederacy."
(followed by:)
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak
out and remove all doubt"

Coincidence? I think not...!

The fate of the winds is nothing to sneer at

How difficult it is to move a ship in an area never explored before!
I really hate it.

Garrisoning is fun, but how to ungarrison?

There is now a mailing list setup for general use outside of the game.
This is for players who do not read the PBMGAMES forum on compuserve, or
the USENET discussion groups, and is specifically dedicated to Shadow
Island Games' Olympia.

To subscribe to the list send to olympia-request@candy.co.uk with the
subject of "subscribe". To remove yourself from the list send the subject
of "unsubscribe". (NB. The parser will only recognise "sub" and "unsub" so
a subject of "submarine" will also add you to the list!! A help and file
request facility will probably be added at a later date, for the players
without ftp capability.)

To mail to the list send to olympia@candy.co.uk

The list is for the discussion of game tactics, hints, improvements to
Olympia, and general in-game roleplaying. It is not moderated, and is not
being run by Shadow Island Games, although all messages posted there will
be forwarded to them.

There is One who names everyOne with a One.
Who is this One? The Goofy One?

> There's got to be a better way to make 25 gold! Sorry Folks!
There is.

Nothing to contribute this month but still short of cash :-)

Ow! I thought we would trounce them rather easily. Instead, although
we did in fact triumph, they smote us rather wickedly. Drat!

Cry Havoc, and let slip the dogs of war.

Torba Bacor Vacations, Ltd invites *YOU* to enjoy the vacation of your
life on _beautiful_ Torba Bacor. Come, visit the eerie wetlands,
towering mountains, vast plains, and trackless (er... is that
trackless or tractless? Both? Oh. Never mind) forests! See the
ancient cities!

It's to die for!

Times Vol G1, Issue 64:

"Which branch of magic does aura blast (and absorb same) come under?"

Necromancy. Perceptive readers of the rules will note that the common
Necromantic spells listed therein include the first spell referred to,
a subtle clue, perhaps, to the form of magic to which the latter
belongs.

-- Robert Emmet, sorceror --

"Oh where are you going," said Reader to Rider,
"The Valley is fatal where furnaces burn"

The old man gazed off into the night sky, his body swaying slowly,
his milky white eyes seeing far more than the stars which he hadn't
seen in years. In a dry, rasping voice he slowly spoke.

"I see an island, and on that island are many beasts. Most
of the beasts are hiding from one large, carnivorous
creature. This creature is terrible to behold. It has over
a score of heads, and one of the heads sends out bolts of
power that can kill it's victims at a distance. This
many-headed hydra is hungry, hungry for the flesh and blood
of living creatures."

"Now the hydra has consumed most of the other creatures
near it. It looks around, seeking more food, it's twenty-some
heads searching all about, but all it sees are either puny,
newborn creatures, or else creatures that are off at a distance.
In it's hunger it howls AOOOOOOOO!! AOOOOOOOO!"

"Now I see that one of it's heads, one of the larger heads, in
it's searching for food, notices that one of the other heads
is looking the other way, and has plenty of meat on it. The
first head lunges at the other head's throat and rips it out,
then quickly consumes it."

"Many other heads now turn gainst the first head, and attack
it, but some of the heads come to the help of the first head,
and now the hydra is locked in a fierce battle against itself,
head against head. The fight rages for days, and the hydra rolls
about, crushing a number of other creatures that happened to be
too close. "

"In the end the first head and it's followers manage to consume
the heads that came to the aid if the second head, but the hydra
is a damaged and far weaker being, and now, even while hunting
for new food, each head is careful to keep a close watch on all of
the other heads."

The old blind man then sat down and drank from a mug at his side, and
said "This, I have seen, and so shall it be."

Cooking with the AOO
Menu planning tip - broccoli flowerettes, lightly sauted
in extra virgin olive oil with a clove of garlic is the
perfect side dish to accompany that roasted newbie.

Clifford is back from vacation! Get those market report requests in.
If your are not part of the database clan, send in a city market report
for a city not in the database and get a report each week on the
commodity of your choice: what cities buy and sell that commodity.
Contact w4t@g1.pbm.com for information.

Is there an Official list of Alliances and their leaders?

Movie Quote : (can you identify the film)
"There should've only been one"

It's spelt EumEnides you OT fraud! See Times #7 for the
astonishing origins of yours truly. Times #8 contains an
excerpt from Bullfinch explaining the power of the Furies
and a song in Times #29 hints at the forces they exerted
to make me what I am today.

-- The Soothsayer

Goodby and good riddance!

Some appropriate quotes from THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY by Ambrose Bierce

HATRED, n. A sentiment appropriate to the occassion of another's
superiority.

HEAVEN, n. A place where the wicked cease from troubling you with
talk of their personal affairs, and the good listen with attention
while you expound your own.

HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant,
which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers
mostly fools.

HOSPITALITY, n. The virtue which induces us to feed and lodge certain
persons who are not in need of food and lodging.

HYPOCRITE, n. One who, professing virtues that he does not respect,
secures the advantage of seeming to be what he despises.

more next time. . .

"The AOO are all a bunch of wimps. LC"

Please post me to rec.games.pbm!!! Maybe I can earn a degree with
honours!!!

What do you breed to get nazgul?

Raising gorgons requires winged horses and giant lizards.

Is there a market for gate crystals?

I think I prefered it when people who had nothing to say
to earn their 25 gold wrote nasty rumors about newbies;
all this "space left intentionally blank" is just boring.

A stroke of luck or a gift from God?
The hand of fate or devil's claws?
From below or saints above?
You come to me now.

Life sucks when you make a typo on a very important order... Oh well...

The AOO is full of sin.
They roam the land making din.
We always try
to make them die.
That way, the'll never win.

Advice to New Arrivals

You will see a lot of advice to newbies in the Times, ranging
from "hurl yourself on the foe, victory will soon be ours" to "all
hope is lost, melt swiftly into the ground" (melting into the ground
appears to be how the game responds to the QUIT command). I can't
claim any special wisdom, but I've got a pretty clear idea about how
the wind blows here in central Provinia, although your milage may
vary.

You have only one real option, here in IC, and that is leaving.
The question is, how. A boat is a good idea, but plan for a long
voyage, since many have set forth before you. The unexplored world
is getting smaller every turn. The Atnos Channel has many barriers
in it, but you can make it out with about 15-30% damage if you just
blunder through. If you go this route, take along the means to fix
your boat. Don't forget, every man you take will cost maintenance
until they vanish. Keep the crew small and travel fast. Your gold
runs out very soon.

By land you can travel three ways. North lies Marat, who enjoys a
poor reputation in these pages. To the east is the Sheriff, who is
said to be honest, by himself and others, but REQUIRES that you gain
his consent before traveling in his lands. I'd believe it, were I
you. To the west is Duke Hobbes, who is tolerant of newbies, but I
doubt that he will be happy if you enter his lands with a large
military force. This brings us to the matter of followers.

The general reaction of new players in Olympia is to begin building
a military force. I strongly advise against gathering up large numbers
of troops, because they are expensive, and likely to bring some power,
possibly the AOO, down on you like a 16 ton weight. All of central
Provinia is garrisoned, and large stacks of troops await bold heros.
There are very few monsters about, since these can be captured and
used for combat by people with the proper Beastmastery skills. The
hidden locations are explored, and the choice trade routes largely in
use. Pillaging, see large numbers of troops, above. You will find any
troops you have to be a constant drain on your funds, but a few are
not bad to have, and will protect you from other newbies. You can walk
about quite defenseless, and be as safe, if not safer than the noble
with 50 swordsmen, who is almost certain to be attacked. Keep your
troops down to about ten or less per stack, and pay attention to
land claims, it could save you some grief.

When walking about, avoid keeping all your nobles in one stack,
with followers in some multiple of five under each noble. This fairly
screams "fresh meat". Break your nobles into ones and twos, give the
stack leader the pikemen, ect. and the second stacker the bowmen, and
feel free to sell your peasants in the market if you don't have a use
for them. More can be aquired in any province, local powers willing.

Keep in mind that you are going to need money soon, the unclaimed
gold will run out pretty fast. Forestry is a good skill, mining useful
if you have a place to mine and a place to sell, shipcraft is useful
if you are going somewhere, magic overrated, combat a waste of time
when you've got pikemen and they've got dragons, beastmastery better
in the long term, construction good when you settle down, stealth
amusing but useful only to thieves and fools. You can make pin money
cutting wood and such, but without a steady buyer, you're going to find
it a pain. My advice is to spawn a few nobles, make a few soldiers, get
a few workers, maybe an ox, hike out to the west coast, build a couple
of ships and hit the sea. There are also existing alliances that would
love to have you join them, that is up to you. Either way, this isn't a
video game, the easy monsters don't come first and the tough ones later.
The toughest monsters in the world are right here, and you're not ready
for them. March or die.

Rumors are clearly worthless! Otherwise, why would they be called
rumors?

Does anyone claim the province ce24
as their own? If so, an interested
party wishes to apply for a visa.

This space intentionally left blank.

Sally Gone round and round!
Heading home at last.
When do we sail?

We claim the area urfd to we8u
and want everyone that plans on entering our claim to tell
us before hand - after all we are civilized out here and
think diner should be announced.

>So why _doesn't_ the AOO give its stats?

Dear child, the AOO is an alliance, which is composed of factions.
Only factions have stats. Generally speaking, alliances are held
togather by gentlemen's agreements, which leads one to wonder what
holds the AOO togather.

The Helpful Stranger

The landscape is desolate. Monsters are scarce, and seem
to be found only by Exploration. Exploration is a chancy thing,
however, since there seems no way to tell if the area has already
been explored until you find a hidden location that has been cleared.

I cannot read the fiery letters, said Frodo in a quavering voice.

No, said Gandalf, but I can. The letters are Elvish, of course, of an ancient
mode, but the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.
They are lines of a verse long known in Elven-lore:

This Ring, no other, is made by the elves,
Who'd pawn their own mother to grab it themselves.
Ruler of creeper, mortal, and scallop,
This is a sleeper that packs quite a wallop.
The Power almighty rests in this Lone Ring.
The Power, alrighty, for doing your Own Thing.
If broken or busted, it cannot be remade.
If found, send to Sorhed (with postage prepaid).

--National Lampoon [Bored of the Rings]

Of all the fishes in the sea the mermaid
is the one for me.....come to me oh mermaid....

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//\\ //\\
\\// Beneath the oak tree of Gienne, struck by lightning, \\//
//\\ the treasure is hidden not far from there. //\\
\\// That which for many centuries had been gathered, \\//
//\\ when found, a man will die, his eye pierced by a spring.//\\
\\//\\ \\//
//\\// Petelinus will fear the barbarian fleet for a time, //\\
\\// then much later the Western fleet. \\//
//\\ Cattle, people, possessions, all will be quite lost. //\\
\\// What a deadly combat in Newleaf and Gentlewind. \\//
//\\ //\\
\\// When the fish that travels over both land and sea \\//
//\\ is cast up on to the shore by a great wave, //\\
\\// its shape foreign, smooth and frightful. \\//
//\\ From the sea the enemies soon reach the walls. //\\
\\//\\ \\//
//\\// Because of the storm at sea the foreign ship //\\
\\// will approach an unknown port. \\//
//\\ Notwithstanding the signs of the palm branches, //\\
\\// afterwards there is death and pillage. \\//
//\\ Good advice comes too late. //\\
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